Hyundai Kona Electric: 20,000 orders already placed globally – report

Korean brand begins first deliveries to export markets for its new EV.

Hyundai has taken ‘over 20,000 reservations’ for its Kona Electric globally, and its first export customers have received their vehicles in Norway this week.

According to a report by Electrek the boatload of more than 100 Kona Electric units that arrived for Norwegian customers are the first deliveries outside of South Korea, with Hyundai claiming it has received more than 20,000 reservations for its electric crossover worldwide.

“This is the first electric car with a sensible price tag that offers both tremendously long range, full range of active safety and a complete multimedia package,” said Øyvind Lillestrøm Knudsen, product manager for Hyundai Motor Norway.

Electrek also reported last month that Hyundai sold 1076 examples in South Korea in June, and exported a further 1120.

The Kona Electric is offered in two versions: a 99kW/395Nm entry-level variant with a 39.2kWh battery good for around 300km range, and a 150kW/395Nm flagship model with a larger 64kWhbattery and a claimed 470km of range.

Currently (according to Electrek), only the ‘long-range’ 64kWh version is in production and available to export markets.

Australia

Hyundai’s local division says it’s targeting a late-2018 launch for the Kona Electric, with priority given to the long-range 64kWh model.

While the company couldn’t firm how many expressions of interest it’s received Down Under, Guido Schenken, PR manager for Hyundai Australia, said: “We’ve received a lot of expressions of interest for both Ioniq Electric and Kona Electric, particularly from fleet and government”.

“We are expecting strong demand for both models when they go on sale locally later this year,” he added.